Latest news with #Botha
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Gerrie Fourie's tearful farewell to Capitec family
At an emotional AGM, the bank's long-serving CEO and founding member stepped down after 25 years. Fourie thanked his executive team and the Capitec board for their trust and support at his final AGM as CEO. Picture: via Capitec's website On Friday, 18 July, Capitec's now-retired CEO Gerrie Fourie stepped onto the stage at the bank's annual general meeting (AGM) in Stellenbosch for the final time, marking the end of a 25-year journey with the company he helped build from the ground up. From the outset, Capitec chair Santie Botha made it clear that this would not be a routine AGM. Botha's opening address set the tone for an emotionally significant farewell to one of the bank's most influential figures. She said Fourie was hand-picked by Capitec co-founder Michiel le Roux in 2000 to be part of the executive team that would build a new kind of bank. 'Over the past six years, I've had the privilege of working closely with Gerrie and observing his modus operandi first-hand,' Botha added. 'He is a phenomenal leader and CEO. His approach to business is unique and he sets a very specific tone from the top.' ALSO READ: Is South Africa's unemployment rate really only 10%? Fourie built what Botha called an 'A-team' of leaders, with zero tolerance for non-performance. He demanded a deep understanding of the business and was known for challenging assumptions, asking difficult questions, and drilling into the detail when needed, she added. He recognised when the numbers didn't add up and always pushed for clarity and accountability. Although he was guided by vision and long-term strategy, Fourie believed nothing beats decisiveness and execution delivered at speed. 'Thank you, Gerrie, for dreaming big and showing South Africa what is possible with dedication and focus. Over to you,' said a visibly emotional Botha. ALSO READ: Government meets with Capitec CEO about unemployment statistics Reflection Fourie's presentation began in his characteristic relaxed and engaging manner, as he shared the latest performance statistics and milestones achieved under his leadership. But the tone soon shifted as he began to reflect on the people who made the journey meaningful. 'To the Capitec team, it was a tremendous 25 years working with you,' said Fourie. He recounted how, during a systems outage in August 2022, staff worked around the clock to restore services. Further, 'Our consultants don't close a branch at 5pm. They wait until the last client leaves. That is our family.' ALSO READ: Capitec's outgoing boss bemoans SA's high real interest rates Gratitude and pride Fourie thanked his executive team and the Capitec board for their trust and support. 'You know, I actually thought this morning – everything I asked for, I got. And I know it sounds windgat [like a braggart],' he said, laughing. He highlighted the decision to invest in 2020, during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, when other companies were pulling back. 'It was scary. But over three years, we invested an additional R6 billion – and that is how we created what Capitec is today. 'The board's boldness and decisiveness helped us get there.' Fourie then turned to his family. 'This is the difficult part,' he said, his voice wavering. He thanked his wife, Reinie, for supporting his career and creating the space he needed to focus entirely on Capitec. 'From my side … thank you. And to my dad – my biggest supporter.' He concluded with a tribute to his successor, Graham Lee. 'Graham started in 2002 as my business analyst. He couldn't speak a word of Afrikaans,' Fourie joked. But, he said, Lee brought all the right qualities to lead Capitec into the future – from technological insight and data fluency to execution ability and, 'most importantly, a passion for people'. 'It's a privilege to hand the baton to you,' he said tearfully as the audience rose in a standing ovation. Capitec share price This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Ballito NPO's phone hacked in voice phishing scam
A single phone call compromised Smile with United States NPO co-founder Cindy Bansi's cellphone number, putting more than 1 000 contacts, including sponsors, at risk. Based in Frasers near Ballito, the non-profit provides vital nutrition, shelter and clothing to the poor. Bansi's number was hacked after she answered a call from an unknown number. 'I have various contacts and groups. The man who took control of my number contacted them asking for money,' she said. Bansi said the cyberattack jeopardised the organisation's reputation and operations as she had used the same number for over 20 years, with all her work linked to it. To make matters worse, she received minimal support from her service provider. 'My bank did not want to block the number that night, even though I explained it was fraudulent. I phoned five times,' she said. It took two days to regain access to her number. Fortunately, no funds were lost. Enrico Botha, an IT technician from Teamwork Computers, explained that this type of cyberattack is known as vishing (voice phishing). It involves a phone call used to manipulate victims into sharing sensitive information or unknowingly granting access to their devices. 'To protect yourself, avoid weak passwords or reusing the same password across sites,' said Botha. 'Use long, complex passwords, ideally at least 12 characters and store them securely with a password manager.' He also recommended enabling two-factor authentication on all important accounts. 'Even if your password is stolen, a second layer of verification can stop the hacker.' Other tips include: • Only download apps from trusted sources, like Google Play or the Apple App Store, and always check the permissions apps request. If an app requests more permissions than it needs, like access to your contacts or microphone when it does not seem necessary, that's a red flag. • Set a PIN or password with your mobile provider to prevent SIM swap fraud. 'Without one, a hacker may easily impersonate you using basic personal details,' said Botha. • Use identity protection services like LifeLock or IDShield to monitor your personal data and alert you to suspicious activity. 'Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, but by taking simple steps, you can stay one step ahead,' he said. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
IOL News
7 days ago
- IOL News
Former road traffic superintendent in dock for allegedly intimidating women drivers
Vincent Botha Image: Nadia Khan A FORMER road traffic superintendent, who allegedly intimidated two women and kidnapped one after they were stopped for apparently not having their number plates properly secured, made his first appearance in the Durban Magistrate's Court last Wednesday. Vincent Botha, 55, was charged with intimidation, kidnapping, assault, and failure to lock away a firearm in a prescribed safe. He was arrested by members of the Hawks Provincial Tracking Team last Sunday. At the time of the alleged incidents, Botha was employed by the Road Traffic Management Corporation in the National Traffic Police division. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that Botha had stopped one of the complainants who was travelling in the Durban central area on October 19, 2022. He allegedly intimidated the woman by demanding that she pay the traffic fine or 'there could be consequences'. According to the charge sheet, the second complainant was stopped while driving along Meridian Drive in uMhlanga on October 21, 2022. Botha allegedly shouted that he was going to use excessive force on her. He is also alleged to have handcuffed her and placed her into his vehicle, and thereafter shoved her handbag onto her. Botha is also accused of failing to lock away a firearm, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol on July 14, 2025. The State, represented by prosecutor Calvin Govender, asked for an adjournment for a formal bail application this week. Botha was remanded into police custody. THE POST
The Citizen
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Weekend wrecks: at least 24 collisions on KZN roads
Weekend wrecks: at least 24 collisions on KZN roads KZN was rocked by a number of road accidents over the weekend, with one ambulance service alone treating 60 patients in 24 collisions across the province. 'The most significant incident occurred on Saturday along the R34 near Newcastle, where a passenger bus carrying 58 people lost control and veered off the roadway,' said Craig Botha, spokesperson for KwaZulu Private Ambulance. 'Emergency responders rushed to the scene to find 11 passengers had sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious. ALSO READ: One critical in single vehicle accident on N2 'All injured passengers were stabilised on-site before being transported to nearby hospitals for further medical care. 'The weekend's incidents weren't confined to a single area, with collisions reported across multiple regions of KZN. 'Near Empangeni on the N2, two separate accidents saw vehicles lose control and collide with road barriers, resulting in one patient sustaining serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention.' Reporting on accidents in other parts of KZN, Botha noted a two-vehicle pile-up on the R33/R34 near Vryheid, resulting in two patients requiring urgent care, while a Shelley Beach accident on the south coast resulted in minor injuries. 'Emergency services continue to urge motorists to exercise caution on KZN roads, particularly during busy weekend periods when traffic volumes increase significantly,' urged Botha. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tech's top venture firm tried to stay above politics, then a partner created a furor
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Roelof Botha arrived this month at the annual Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, to meet and mingle with tech and media moguls. A controversy brewing back home followed him to the exclusive the managing partner of Sequoia Capital, a storied Silicon Valley venture capital firm, was repeatedly asked at the event about a colleague, Shaun Maguire , two people with knowledge of the matter said. Maguire -- perhaps Sequoia's most outspoken partner -- had posted on the social platform X on July 4 that Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Democrat running for New York City mayor, came from a "culture that lies about everything" and was lying to advance "his Islamist agenda."Maguire's post was immediately condemned across social media as Islamophobic. More than 1,000 technologists signed an open letter calling for him to be disciplined. Investors, founders and technologists have sent messages to the firm's partners about Maguire's behavior. His critics have continued pressuring Sequoia to deal with what they see as hate speech and other invective, while his supporters have said Maguire has the right to free Sun Valley, Botha listened, but remained neutral, the people with knowledge of the matter half a century, Sequoia has tried to maintain that neutrality, even as rival venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund started taking political stances. But as Maguire has increasingly made inflammatory comments, including saying that diversity, equity and inclusion "kills people," Sequoia is now in a place that its leaders never wanted to be: smack in the middle of the culture a tricky moment for the vaunted venture firm, which backed Apple, Nvidia and Google when they were startups. For decades, Sequoia kept its partners in the background while shining the spotlight on the founders of the startups it invests in. Yet those values have become harder to adhere to as the venture industry has ballooned, and many investors have cast off Maguire is unusual at Sequoia for his outspokenness on X, he is not an industry outlier. Venture capitalists such as Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel have openly talked about their thinking, sometimes with the intent of influencing national Sequoia has said nothing about Maguire. Behind the scenes, one senior partner at Sequoia, Doug Leone, appeared to defend Maguire, according to email correspondence reviewed by The New York Times."Sequoia is backed into a corner and only has bad options," said Paul Biggar, CEO of the advocacy group Tech for Palestine, who also founded CircleCI, a software development startup. "People are speaking up because everyone sees what they've supported, and directionally that's only going to get worse for them."Sequoia declined to comment. In an interview with Fortune in March, Botha described the firm as having a "spirit of institutional neutrality" while allowing individuals to hold their political a nearly 30-minute video posted on X last week, Maguire again called Mamdani "an Islamist," and a "wolf in sheep's clothing." Maguire also tried drawing a distinction, saying "Islamists are not all Muslims" and apologized "to any Muslim that is not an Islamist and to any Indian that took offense with this tweet."Mamdani's campaign did not respond to a request for in 1972, Sequoia was known for years for its stellar track record with investing in startups. The firm reaped billions of dollars when young companies that it bet on burgeoned into large businesses and went public or were acquired for enormous the 1990s, Sequoia had established itself as a top venture firm on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California, with investments in companies including Cisco, the telecommunications hardware provider. It also invested in PayPal, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp and Zoom , among others. For startups, Sequoia's stamp of approval meant they were a Sequoia's partners tried to stay out of the limelight. But over time, more investors arrived in Silicon Valley seeking startups that would blossom into the next Google or Airbnb. To stand out, some venture capitalists at firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Founders Fund started blogging and posting on social media, aiming to be thought leaders. Talking about third-rail political issues became more 2016, Michael Moritz, a senior partner at Sequoia and the firm's most prominent Democrat, penned an editorial in The Financial Times criticizing Donald Trump . In 2020, Leone, a Republican, donated to the reelection campaign of Trump, but denounced the president in a statement to the press after the Jan. 6, 2021, uprising at the moments, along with similar ones over the years, paved the way for others at Sequoia to speak more openly about their politics, two people with knowledge of the firm hired Maguire, 39, who co-founded a cybersecurity company, in 2019 on the recommendation of Patrick Collison, CEO of Stripe, a payments startup that is one of the venture firm's largest investments. Maguire had chafed at hot-button issues before; he once claimed he was not promoted at another venture firm for "being a white man."At Sequoia, Maguire tied himself to Elon Musk. Maguire helped land the firm its investment in SpaceX, Musk's rocket company, which has soared in value. Maguire also led Sequoia's deals with other companies run by Musk, including the tunneling firm the Boring Co., X and artificial intelligence startup who know Maguire described him as warm and friendly in person and said his relative youth -- Botha, by contrast, is 51 -- made him relatable to younger Maguire also developed a reputation -- or perhaps notoriety -- as a prolific user of X, where he has more than 275,000 followers. In dozens of posts daily, he has commented on political issues and progressive causes. After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Maguire, who is a self-described "Jew and a Zionist," defended the Israeli government's response while raising alarms on what he saw as a rise in antisemitism."With every single person I meet, the first thing through my brain is: 'Would they want to kill me if they knew I was Jewish?'" he posted on X three days after the Valley noticed. Founders, investors and other tech workers messaged Sequoia's partners and other employees about Maguire's behavior, two people familiar with the matter month, Maguire posted about Mamdani after the Times published an article about how the mayoral candidate, a Muslim of South Asian descent who was born in Uganda, wrote that he was Asian and African American in an application to Columbia University. (He was not admitted to the school.) Mamdani had just won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary on a progressive platform, emphasizing affordability and other cost-of-living issues, and had defended the rights of response to Maguire's post, technologists and startup founders circulated the open letter calling for Sequoia to commission an independent investigation into his behavior. The letter claimed to represent roughly 1,000 startups, with signatures from more than 1,100 people, though not all the names on the list could be verified. At least one company that signed the letter was funded by Sequoia."This was not a misstep," the letter said of Maguire. "It was a deliberate, inflammatory attack that promotes dangerous anti-Muslim stereotypes and stokes division."In a post on X, Maguire referred to his "enemies" and said, "I'm going to play nice for now, but am ready to embarrass any of you should you escalate."A counterletter supporting Maguire garnered more than 1,000 signatories, including Bill Ackman, a billionaire financier who supports Israel, as well as startup founders whose companies are backed by Sequoia. The letter described Maguire as a "principled thinker" who has "helped build careers, fund companies and elevate voices across divides."Others have sent private messages to Sequoia employees urging them to stand by Maguire, two people with knowledge of the matter insiders have trod carefully. On July 10, Pat Grady, a partner at the firm, posted a statement on X sympathizing with both the Muslim community and Maguire. It was reposted by Alfred Lin, another partner."I do not agree with everything my partners say," Grady wrote. "Aggressive truth-seeking and a healthy conflict of ideas is a hallmark of Sequoia. These are key ingredients in making the partnership great."In emails with a concerned founder this month, which were reviewed by the Times, Leone wrote that Maguire's posts did not condemn Muslims. Leone also echoed a point Maguire has made publicly, distinguishing between "Islamists" and "Muslims."On Monday, the signatories who called for Maguire to be disciplined asked that tech workers reach out to Sequoia's financial backers and clients -- including the University of Michigan, Duke University and the University of Texas system -- to speak with the firm."If we, the global technology industry, are serious about building a more inclusive future, it starts with holding power accountable," the letter the managing partner of Sequoia Capital, a storied Silicon Valley venture capital firm, was repeatedly asked at the event about a colleague, Shaun Maguire, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Maguire -- perhaps Sequoia's most outspoken partner -- had posted on the social platform X on July 4 that Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Democrat running for New York City mayor, came from a "culture that lies about everything" and was lying to advance "his Islamist agenda."
